Iraq/Mosul: Attacks against two churches, confusing reports
Reports are still confusing regarding a
double attack against two Christian Churches in the northern Iraqi city
of Mosul. The episodes were confirmed to MISNA by the Syrian Catholic Archbishop
of Mosul, Monsignor Basile Georges Casmoussa, though he couldn't provide
further details. Based on a first report of the Aswat al-Iraq news agency,
at least 4 people were killed and 40 wounded in the blasts, while some
international media report 1 dead. Also the different reconstructions remain
uncertain. Aswat al-Iraq reports that two churches were targeted: the Virgin
Mary Church in al-Shifaa neighborhood, in western Mosul and the Annunciation
Church in Chourta, in the northern neighbourhood of al-Mohandiseen, where
an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) or some grenades - depending on the
sources - were launched against the building, causing damages though without
any casualties. The most violent episode occurred outside the Virgin Mary
Church, where the two blasts claimed victims also among people in the nearby
Christian 'Al-Ghassanya' primary school. Also on this detail reports are
confusing: according to some sources, some children are among the wounded,
while Monsignor Casmoussa said that all the students escaped the blasts
unharmed. "The attacks of the past weeks (another 4 Churches were
targeted since the start of the month) and killing of Christians is a terrible
message for us, a new sentiment of spreading fear. Unfortunately these
attacks will keep the faithful away from the Churches at Christmas. The
government is weak, six years from the start of the conflict, and is still
not able to guarantee our security here in Mosul. There is always a pretext
behind these attacks, at least according to observers. Now they are referring
to political battles between parties and groups ahead of next year's elections",
added the Syrian Catholic Archbishop of Mosul.
[BO]